In honor of Big Hero 6's Oscar win and DVD release this coming Tuesday, I bring you all a new story. I've been wanting to write a story for Big Hero 6…because I'm so obsessed. I don't envision this story being overly long, but who really knows? I have a basic outline and direction for the story and then, from there, it's a game of filling in the blanks.

Also, another working title for this story was "Becoming GoGo". I ultimately went with "Not a Stereotype" because of the song that inspired the story.

This story is heavily inspired by the song "Stereotype" by Lauren Dair Owens. I own neither that song nor Big Hero 6. Saying it here so it's done and over with and we can move on to the story.

Chapter 1: First Day of School

Leiko Tanaka was five years old when her mother walked her to the elementary school for the first time. She was nervous. Her parents had told her that there was no reason to worry. "You'll love school, Leiko," Mrs. Tanaka had assured her daughter.

They arrived early to the school and Leiko saw many of the school kids playing on the playground before the school opened. Leiko eyed the playground equipment, but was still nervous to leave her mother. Mrs. Tanka kneeled down to face her daughter eye-to-eye. "Go have fun, Leiko. Make some friends. I'll pick you up when school is over at 3:30."

Hesitantly, Leiko walked toward the equipment. Desperately she wanted to talk with some of the other girls, but she was so scared. Growing up, Leiko was an only child. Now she was expected to spend several hours each weekday with other kids. How was she supposed to act?

Luckily, she did not have to worry for too long as several teachers came out to the playground and invited the kids into the school. Leiko took one last look back at her smiling mother before following the other kids. Once inside, the teachers helped the kids, especially the new kids like Leiko, to find their classrooms. The elementary school was huge and Leiko was afraid that its sole purpose for existing was to swallow her and the other kids alive.

The teachers led Leiko to a bright and decorated classroom on the bottom floor of the school. Inside the classroom, Leiko was greeted by her teacher, Mrs. Hamada, a cheerful and very nice woman who helped Leiko to find the desk where she was to sit. A handwritten nametag was topped to the top of the desk and Leiko ran her hand over it.

"Leiko, you can hang your backpack in the closet, okay?" Mrs. Hamada gently told her, pointing to the open closet where several other students were also hanging their backpacks.

Mrs. Hamada left to go help other students as their entered the room and Leiko took her backpack over to the closet. Finding an open hook, she hung her backpack and returned to her seat. A girl took a seat beside Leiko, but the black-haired girl did not pay much attention to her until the other girl greeted her.

"Hi! I'm Amanda!"

Leiko glanced over. "I'm…Leiko," she answered, still a little hesitant.

The girls talked and Leiko learned a lot about the girl who would be sitting next to her. Amanda's family had recently moved the East Coast. Leiko found this amazing as she had lived in San Fransokyo for her entire life thus far. Leiko and Amanda became fast friends.

Leiko loved everything about Amanda. Her carefree friendliness that had accepted a shy and nervous girl like herself. Her blonde hair with a slight curl, so unlike Leiko's stick-straight black hair.

The school day flew by and Leiko was not ready to leave when Mrs. Hamada walked her class to the doors to meet up with their parents. When Leiko saw her mother, the girl said goodbye to her new friend and ran to her mom.

Hugging her daughter, Mrs. Tanaka asked, "How was your first day of school?"

"Awesome!" Leiko answered immediately, her excitement overcoming her. "I made a friend. Her name's Amanda. She's from the East Coast! She's so nice!" the girl answered so quickly that her mother almost couldn't follow.

"Why don't you tell me all about your day on our walk back home?" she replied with a smile.

Leiko found Amanda in the crowd and waved goodbye one last time. The walk home went by so fast as Leiko told her mom everything that had happened during her first day of school. Mrs. Tanaka beamed with pride throughout Leiko's entire story. Never before had she seen her daughter so happy and excited.

As for Leiko, who had been so unsure about starting school, she could not wait until tomorrow to go back to school and hang out with Amanda again.

I know…short chapter, but this is almost like a prologue. Chapters should start to pick up in length soon. We'll see, though.

Thank you all for reading and supporting Not a Stereotype!

Posted: February 23, 2015